Ventilating apparatus



Feb. l5, 1955 w. A. wuLLE 2,701,998

VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed Maron 2e; 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 Wil/iam' A.Wzz/le Feb. 15, 1955 w. A. WULLE 2,701,998

VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yETmTYUnited States Patent Ollce I 1 2,701,998 Patented Feb. 15, 1955VENTILATING APPARATUS Application March 26, 1952, Serial No. 278,544

11 Claims. (Cl. 98-140) This invention relates generally to Ventilatingapparatus and more particularly to a Ventilating apparatus of the typeincluding a ceiling structure having a frame-work made up of pipescarrying a heat exchange medium and supporting a plurality of pans madeof thermally conductive material and forming a continuous radiantceiling surface, the pans cooperating with suitable cover means to forma plenum chamber'adjacent the continuous celling surface and alsocarrying Valve controlled means to admit a supply of temperatureconditioned Ventilating air from a source of higher pressure into theplenum chamber for diffusion outwardly' through a foraminous portion ofthe pan. l

According to the general features of the present invention, a ceilingVentilating apparatus comprising. a plurality of spaced pipes arrangedin coplanar relationship forms a ceiling framework. A pan having aforaminous surface is extended between each pair of adjacent-pipes andincludes upstanding flanges shaped to clip on to-the pipes. When aplurality of pans are thus assembled, a continuous radiant ceilingsurface is provided since the pans are made of thermally conductivematerial and the temperature, of the pans is controlled by conducting aheat exchange medium through the pipes. n

A'duct to carry a supply of temperature conditioned Ventilating air atincreased pressures is located superadjacent the pipes and is providedwith a duct outlet. Wall means cooperate with the pans to forma plenumchamber arid a suitable inlet aperture is providedfor the plenumchamber. A flexible sleeve is located between the duct outlet and theinlet aperture of the plenum chamber and adjustable valve means areprovided in the inlet aperture to control the admission of air at higherpressure into the plenumchamber for diffused distribution outwardlythrough the foraminous portion of the an. p It is an object of thepresent invention to provide a combination Ventilating apparatus whichwill effect the simultaneous distribution of radiant heat andtemperature conditioned Ventilating air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedceiling Ventilating apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an airdistributing apparatus which islconcealed behind and forms a part of acontinuous radiant ceiling surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedVentilating apparatus operable on the so' called pressure-displacementprinciple.

Many other advantages, features and additional ob-l jects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detail description which follows and the accompanying psheets of drawings in which a preferred structural einbodimentincorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way ofillustrative example only.

Figure l is a fragmentary cross-sectional View with parts shown inelevation and with parts removed for the sake of clarity showing aVentilating apparatus incorporating the principles of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View, with parts shown insection, of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the cover member provided in accordance withthe principles of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a View showing a development of the cover member of Figure3.

As shown on the drawings:

A particularly useful application of the principles of the presentinvention is made in connection with the provision of a ceilingVentilating apparatus although it will be understood that theVentilating apparatus can be advantageously employed with any wallsurface of an enclosure or space to be Ventilated.

In the preferred embodiment shown by way -of illus trative example, aplurality of spaced pipes 10 arearranged in co-planar relationship toform a ceiling framework. It will be understood that the pipes may besupplied with a heat exchange medium and, in this connection, there isindicated in Figure 2 a header 11 supplied with heat exchange mediumsuch as hot water, steam, or in the event cooling is required, a coolantpressurized by` a pump P powered by a motor M discharging through a heatexchanger HE and through a thermostatic valve V. lt will, of course, beunderstood that instead of a plurality of separate pipes 10, atortuously twisted pipe mightl be arranged to provide the ceilingframework as shown in the drawings. l

A continuous ceiling surface is provided by suspending a plurality ofstandardized pan members 12 on the pipes 10. Each of the pan members 12is made of a thermally conductive material and is assembled with thepipes 10 in thermally' conductive relationship therewith so as to form aradiant ceiling surface which may be effectively utilized to control thedistribution of radiant heat energy to the space or enclosure with whichthe ceiling surface is associated.

c ln accordance with the principles of the present invention, a ceilingstructure thus provided is modified to develop the additional functionof distributing temperature condition vVentilating air at the same time.

Referring speciiically to. Figure l, it will be` noted that each of thepans 12 extends between a pair of adjacent pipes 10 and includes a firstwall portion 13 having a plurality of perforations 14 extendingtherethrough to render the wall portion 13 foraminous. At oppositemargins of the wall portion 13 an upstanding tlange 16 and an upstandingtlange 17 are provided, each of the llanges 16 and 17 providing sidewalls for the pan 12 and being provided with an arcuately-shaped clipportion 18 and 19, respectively.

The arcuately-shaped clip portions 18 and 19 are, in effect, of Cconfiguration and it will be noted that both open in the same directionso that a pan member 12 may be moved in general registry with a pair ofthe pipes 10 and is then laterally displaced until clip portion 18engages the clip portion 19 of the next adjacent pan member 12 and theclip portion 19 engages the corresponding pipe 10. y

A cover member, indicated generally at 2t) is provided for each of thepan members 12. The construction of the cover members 20 may be clearlyunderstood by making a particular reference to Figures 3 and 4 inconnection with Figures 1 and 2.

Each cover member 20 is made from a tlat sheet of portion 21 having aninlet aperture 22 form in a central portion thereof and bounded on itsmargins by offset flanges 25 which are bent downwardly at an acute angleto the plate portion 21 along the bend lines 23.

vEach of the corners of the cover member 20 are notched as at 24 tofacilitate abutment of the longitudinal and transverse flanges 25. Aretainer member 26 is spot welded to each of the corners after the covermember 20 is formed into proper shape' to retain the tlanges .22 inlocked assembly.

Adjacent each corner of the plate portion 21 of the cover member 20 isprovided a pair of apertures 27. On one margin of the plate portion 21,a pair of retainer clips 28 are firmly assembled to the cover member 20by means of a plurality of rivets 29. Each of the retainer clips 28comprises a strip which is arcuately shaped as at 30 so as to underlie apart of the clip portion 18 on thc llange 16 of the pan member l2.

On the opposite margin, a pair of clip members 3l are pivoted to theplate portion 21 of the cover member 20 by means of rivets 32. Each ofthe clip members 3l aromas comprises a strip which is arcuately shapedas at 33 and which may be pivoted into position so as to abuttinglyunderlie a portion of the corresponding pipe after which each of theclips 31 may be placed in firm assembly with the plate portion 21 of thecover member 20 by threading a screw 34 through the corresponding clipmember 31 into one of the apertures 27.

The cover member is received by the pan member l2 with the flanges 25engaging the wall portion 13, thereby spacing the plate 21 relative tothe wall portion 13 and forming with the pan member 12 a plenum chamber36.

A collar 37 flanged as at 38 is spot welded to the plate portion 21 ofthe cover member 20 and provides an upstanding ange 39 forming a throatfor the inlet aper-` ture 22.

A bracket 40 spans the throat or flange 39 and is spot welded thereto infirm assembly therewith. The bracket 40 carries a nut 41 whichthreadedly receives a bolt 42 having an adjusting head 43 to facilitateturning of the bolt 42, thereby to axially position the bolt relative tothe nut 41 and the bracket 40.

The bolt 42 extends into the plenum chamber 36 and carries on the endthereof a valve plate 44 carried by a retainer 46 received on the end ofthe bolt 42.

As is shown in Figure 3, the valve plate 44 has subi stantially the sameconfiguration as the inlet aperture 22 and selective adjustment thereofrelative to the throat provided by the flange 39 of the collar 37 willoperate to control the admission of air into the plenum chamber 36.

A duct 47 is provided superjacent the ceiling framework provided by thepipes 10 and carries a supply of pressurized temperature conditionedventilating, air. In other words, the duct 47 may be considered asforming a primary plenum chamber 48. A duct outlet 49 is provided and acollar 50 is fastened to the duct 47 by a pluralityA of fasteners 51,thereby to provide a fiange 52 at the duct outlet 49.

It will be understood that the duct 47 and the plenum chamber 36 arerelatively spaced from one another. Thus,

- in order to supply air from the primary plenum chamber 48 to theplenum chamber 36, a generally tubular flexible sleeve 53 is clamped tothe flange. 52 by means of a clamp retainer 54 and the other end of thesleeve 53 is clamped to the flange 39 by means of a clamp retainer 56.

Thev sleeve 53 preferably comprises a flexible material which issomewhat rigdiiied by means of a coil spring 57. It will be vappreciatedthat in a typical architectural installation the duct works for theprimary ventilating system such as the duct 47 will be installed priorto the suspensionof the ceiling surface afforded by the wall portions 13of the pan members 12, hence, the use of the present invention affords awide rangeof tolerance in locating the duct outlets 49 and the inlets 22for each of the plenum chambers 36. In reference to an entire ceilingsurface, it will be further appreciated that a plurality of plenumchambers 36 may be located at spaced intervals so that a supply oftemperature conditioned ventilating air may be diffused throughcorresponding portions of the ceiling surface simultaneously with thedistribution of radiant heat to the space being ventilated by virtue ofthe fact that the continuous ceiling surface is radiant in character.

Although various minor structural modifications might be suggested bythose versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embodywithin the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modificationsas reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution tothe art.

I claim as my invention:

l. A ventilating apparatus comprising, a duct carrying pressurized airand having an outlet aperture in one Wall thereof, a first collar onsaid one wall providing a ange around said outlet aperture, an enclosurespaced from said duct and providing a plenum chamber, one wall of saidenclosure comprising a perforate distribution panel for diffusing airoutwardly from said plenum chamber,

a second wall of said enclosure having an inlet aperture formed therein,a second collar on said second wall forming a flange around said inletaperture, a flexible tubular sleeve receiving said collars at oppositeends thereof, clamping means connecting said sleeve and said collars infirm assembly, a bracket bridging said second collar and carrying anadjustment nut in firm assembly therewith, a bolt threaded into said nutand extending toward 35 said plenum chamber, a valve plate on the end ofsaid bolt -to selectively adjust the effective size of said inletaperture upon threadedly positioning said bolt and said nut to admitcontrolled quantities of air from said duct into said plenum chamber,and pipes engaging said pan in thermally conductive assembly therewithto support said pan and to control the temperature of said pan to form aradiant heating surface.

2. In a room ventilating apparatus, a pair of pipes, a pan member madeof thermally conductive material and having a foraminous plate-likesurface fianged at opposite margins to provide side walls therefor, eachof said side walls having a C shaped clip portion receiving acorresponding one of said pipes, a cover member for said pan member andtogether therewith forming a plenum chamber, said cover membercomprising a plate having flanged margins to provide side wallstherefor, said cover member received by said pan member with said sidewalls of said cover member engaging said foraminous surface and saidplate being spaced from said foraminous surface, a first clip meansadjacent one margin of said plate and having an arcuately-shaped portionto abut against the corresponding side wall of said pan member, a secondclip means adjacent the opposite margin of said plate comprising afinger memberpivoted on said plate and havmg an arcuate end portion toengage the corresponding one of said pipes in opposition to thecorresponding side wall of said pan' member, fastener means to lock saidsecond vclip means in assembled relationship relative to said pipe andsaid pan member, said plate having an inlet aperture therein, and valvemeans in said aperture to control the admission of air into said plenumchamber for diffused distribution through said pan member.

3. In a ventilating system, the combination with a wall or a ceiling ofa space to be ventilated of an inner wall spaced interiorly of said wallor ceiling, a supply duct extending into the space behind said innerwall, at least one outlet formed in said supply duct, at least oneopening formed in said inner wall, an air distributor chamber comprisinga lower wall means providing a distributing diffuser type outlet andupper wall means having an inlet formed therein, said upper wall meanshaving side portions contacting said lower wall means to form togethertherewith the said chamber, means fastening said chamber in said openinginsaid inner wall, a collar on said upper wall means providing a flangeat said inlet, and a sleeve of flexible material for each outlet in saidsupply duct and having one end connected to a corresponding collar onsaid chamber, said sleeve having means at its other end to-connect saidsleeve to said outlet in said supply duct.

4. In a ventilating system, the combination with a wall or a ceiling ofa space to be ventilated of an inner wall spaced interiorly of said wallor ceiling, a supply duct extending into the space behind said innerwall, said 'supply duct and said inner wall having a plurality ofopenings formed therein, a plurality of air distributing chambers eachcomprising lower wall means providing an air distributing outlet andupper wall means having an inlet formed therein, said upper wall meanshaving side portions contacting said lower wall means to provide saidchamber, means fastening said chambers in said openings in said innerwall, a collar on said upper wall means of each respective chamberproviding a flange at said inlet. and a flexible sleeve for each chamberhaving one end connected to said collar, said other end of each sleevehaving means to connect said sleeve to a corresponding outlet in saidsupply duct.

S. In a ventilating system as defined in claim 4, an adjustable valvecontrolling the flow of air through each respective sleeve, whereby allvalves in all of said sleeves may be pre-set to balance the systemdistribution of air from said supply duct to said air distributingchambers and throughout the space.

6. In a ventilating system as defined in claim 4, said means at saidother end of said sleeve connecting said sleeve to a correspondingoutlet in said supply duct comprising a collar providing a flange at theoutlet in the supply duct and an adjustable valve in one of said collarsfor controlling the flow of air through each respective sleeve.

7. In a ventilating system as defined in claim 4, said inner wall moreparticularly comprising an acoustical metal pan ceiling including aplurality of perforated metal pans, said lower wall means of each ofsaid air distribut.

ing chambers providing with said metal pan ceiling a unified coplanarfinished surface. 8. In a Ventilating system as defined in claim 4, saidinner wallmore particularly comprising an acoustical metal pan ceilingincluding a plurality of perforated metal pans and said lower wall meansof each of said air distributing chambers comprising one of saidperforated metal pans. 9. In a Ventilating system as defined in claim 4,said mner wall more particularly comprising a plurality of spaced pipesarranged in coplanar relation to form a framework as well asa conduitnetwork, and a plurality of metal thermally conductive pans connected tosaid pipes and presenting a continuous finished wall surface to theinterior of the compartment, and means supplying a heat exchange mediumto said pipes to control the temperature of said inner wall.

l0. In a Ventilating system, the combination with a ceiling of a spaceto be ventilated of a suspended false ceiling suspended interiorly ofsaid ceiling, said false ceiling comprising a plurality of metal pansperforated to provide an acoustical finished ceiling surface for theinterior of the space, at least one supply duct extending into the spacebehind said false ceiling, said supply duct and said false ceilinghaving a plurality of openings formed therein, a corresponding pluralityof air distributing chambers each comprising a lower wall meansproviding an air distributing diffuser type outlet and an upper wallmeans assembled on said lower wall means, said upper wall means havingside portions engaging said lower wall means and forming togethertherewith the said air chamber, said upper wall means having an inletformed therein for said chamber, means fastening said chambers in saidopenings in said false ceiling, a collar on said upper wall means ofeach respective chamber providing a ange at said inlet, and a flexiblesleeve for each chamber having one end connected to said collar, saidother end of each sleeve having means to connect said sleeve to acorresponding outlet in said supply duct.

In combination with a wall or a ceiling of a space to be ventilatedhaving an inner wall spaced interiorly of the wall or ceiling, aVentilating system comprising, a supply duct having an inlet adapted toreceive a supply of Ventilating air at increased pressure, said supplyduct extending into the space behind said inner wall and having aplurality of separate spaced apart outlet units, said outlet units eachincluding a iiexible conduit communicating with and leading from saidsupply duct, and a terminal air distributor at the free end of saidconduits, said terminal air distributor comprising upper and lower wallmeans having engaging side portions and together forming a plenumchamber, said lower wall means providing an outlet through which air isdischarged, and mounting means connecting said air distributor to saidinner wall, said lower wall means of said air distributor together withsaid inner wall forming a finished surface for the interior of the spacebeing ventilated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

